Just a few short months ago, OKC Thunder big man Aday Mara was drawing a ton of heat for his play and perceived NBA potential.
From being deemed the Summer League's "most disappointing rookie" to rumors that Oklahoma City wasn't even completely sold on him in the draft process, the recent lottery pick was entering the association with a ton of undesirable attention.
Fast forward to four games into the preseason, however, and it seems that Mara is experiencing a true 180 turn of events from a reputation standpoint, with the current peak being the recent fad of seeing comparisons being drawn between his game and Hall of Famer Pau Gasol's.
Coming into the draft, the Michigan product certainly drew a considerable number of parallels to past pros. Of course, with usual comps like Roy Hibbert, his presumed ceiling never reached all that high.
Because of this, seeing buzz about how Mara's game shows blatant shades of the six-time All-Star Gasol is by no means something to ignore.
Adding someone of this potential caliber to an already stacked and championship-tested team like the Thunder, with All-Stars and young, budding stars abound, should only make OKC's quest to become the league's newest dynasty all the more realistic.
Aday Mara flashing diverse skill set throughout Thunder preseason
With his game being compared to someone like Gasol, Mara is clearly far from a big-bodied, one-trick-pony interior presence.
While this diverse skill set was certainly flashed during his collegiate career, it's been even more on display during this year's preseason.
Yes, the fact that he can back opposing defenders down and out-rebound players with sheer and brute force thanks to his electrifying 7-foot-3, 250-pound frame is far from surprising.
However, it's this coupled with his quick and fluid footwork, soft shooting touch outside of the painted area, and impressive distribution skills that's really turning heads.
So far, the 21-year-old finds himself boasting tremendous averages of 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks per game on a ridiculous 79.3 percent shooting from the field.
From serving as a focal point among talents fighting for mere two-ways to logging minutes next to cornerstones like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, Mara has been seen playing a wide range of roles with the Thunder this preseason.
Excitingly enough, he's found a way to shine in all of them. Hopefully, he can continue to do so come the regular season.
Needless to say, we've come a long way from initial predictions that he wouldn't even be in the regular rotation until next year.
How foolish those look now!
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